Elena glared at the beast with apprehension, unsure if she could take it on. She was able to fight Rose successfully during their spar, but neither of them were aiming to kill that time.
This time, her opponent was leaking bloodlust greater than any she had ever faced, assuring her that losing meant death.
However, even with the presence and aura of a beast seemingly in the Core Expansion realm, the grey world around them didn't break.
'If that's the case, then Rose should have the situation under control.'
And just as she thought, a voice suddenly rang in her head.
"How far are you from your class change?"
Checking her status, Elena smiled. "Not even 1000 exp. This kill should be more than enough."
From her position on her throne, Rose slightly nodded. With such a small amount of experience left, Elena only needed to land the fatal blow on the beast to level up.
"I'll take this one. When you see an opportunity, go for the kill."
Although she was slightly hesitant, Elena relented. Her main goal at the moment was just that, a rank up. The grey world made her forget, but the beast tide was still raging around them. After leveling up, she'd be able to fight stronger beasts as she pleased.
The massive tree Elena was standing on slowly receded back into the ground, it's vines and roots untangling. The swords of light around her turned into particles before merging with the surroundings.
As for Elena herself, she jumped back and made a good amount of distance from the opposing beast.
"Hmm?" The lion was confused by her actions, but didn't think much of it. Making distance was a normal move, especially in combat with a much stronger opponent.
However, he immediately became wary when the air in front of him coalesced into another figure who radiated an aura that was only slightly weaker than his own.
"Isn't it a little rude to pick on someone weaker than you? How about you get past me first."
Rose didn't speak anymore before initiating combat. She raised her hand, causing tens of bladed weapons to shoot up from the ground under the lion.
Whoosh!
The lion took to the air, narrowly dodging before opening its mouth and letting out a thunderous roar.
Light green mana raged in the atmosphere before turning into multiple tornadoes that charged towards Rose.
"A wind affinity? Just like me." She said as she formed her own tornadoes to match.
The two sets of wind element attacks met and diffused each other, causing the ground beneath them to shred into dust particles.
While the lion prepped for another attack, it suddenly felt pain in its side. "Huh?" It uttered before realizing that one of its wings had been severed.
"H-how?!"
He hadn't felt felt any movement of mana nor any threat before it happened, only realizing it after the action had already taken place.
Before he could think further, he felt the same pain on the adjacent side as his other wing fell to the ground.
"I guess you thought highly of yourself before coming here. Well, I'm a kind person so let me explain. You are in my domain. My word is law. Simple, right?"
From the start, there was no competition. Any being even close to Rose in strength was completely subject to her will within her illusory throne domain. It was the reason why the concept of domains was largely feared.
Unless one had their own domain to fight it, it was nigh impossible to win if the strength of both sides was even.
"Y-you!" The lion stuttered as fear began to overrun him. However, regardless of how he tried to flee, he found himself unable to move.
"Elena, the rest is up to you." With those words, Rose once again vanished.
Elena watched the scene in awe, realizing how vast the gap between them was. It wasn't raw power, rather it was a difference in comprehension.
Shaking her head, she rid herself of stray thoughts. Still, she felt a bit competitive.
"Purify."
Mana gushed out of her body in droves, becoming a wave of light that crashed through the surroundings, illuminating the grey world.
The golden-white sea continued unimpeded before crashing into the lion and swallowing it whole.
The light attribute mana seeped into the lion's body, infecting his being with its color. Slowly but surely, he was purified into the most prime form of essence. He wasn't even able to release a sound as he died.
As she watched this scene, Elena saw a series of holographic screens cloud her vision.
[Your achievements have reached the required threshold to change your class. Choose a new class from the list below.]
[Choose a class]
[1. Sword Saint]
[2. Prime Saintess]
[3. Valkyrie]
[4. Nymph]
Elena took her attention away from the receding sea of light and contemplated her options. The first two were immediately ruled out, as she had no interest in following either path. As for which of the last two to choose, she had to think further.
Valkyries were geared towards war, and in the legends, they dominated battlefields and led deceased souls to the afterlife.
As for Nymphs, they were something akin to the embodiment of nature. Although she was sure this path would grant her immense power, it wasn't one geared towards fighting, which was her strong suit.
Making her decision, she picked her class.
[You have become a Valkyrie. Valkyries are warriors who paint battlefields red with the blood of their enemies. Though you walk a path of bloodshed, you strive to remain pure of heart.]
[The souls of the deceased recognize your intentions, calling out to you. Your existence becomes closer to death, increasing your battle prowess. Your legends have been enhanced.]
[By becoming a 3rd class being, you have obtained the qualifications to choose a subclass.]
[Choose a subclass]
[1. Saintess]
[2. Enchantress]
[3. Alchemist]
[4. Blacksmith]
[5. Beast Tamer]
Subclasses were an odd concept as they didn't seem to aid much considering the power of main classes, but they did help keep and enhance some abilities that might be discarded with the change of class.
Due to this, she chose Saintess. Her healing capability was something she deemed necessary, especially if anything untoward happens to Damien or Rose.
While she basked in the information that entered her mind and the elevation of her league, Elena opened her status.
'Status'
[Status]
[Elena Pierce]
Human
Female - Age 21
Level 100 - [Valkyrie]
Experience value: 0/150,000
Title(s): [N/A]
Affinities: Light, Life
Physique: None
Magic Power: 14000
STR: 300
AGI: 315
DEF: 290
INT: 300
DEX: 320
Skills: [High-Level Recovery Level 2], [Holy Magic Level Max], [Life Magic Level Max], [Mid-Level Regeneration Level 8], [Sword Mastery Level 7], [Judgement Level Max], [Call of Life Level 7], [Souls of Valhalla Level 1]
Elena smiled wholeheartedly. She had finally reached 3rd class, becoming an existence on the same level as Damien and Rose. Perhaps their levels were ahead of hers at the moment, but as long as she tried, it wouldn't be hard to catch up.
Looking to her left, she noticed a figure appearing from the air.
"Congratulations!" Rose said cheerfully. She was also genuinely excited for Elena's progress.
However, Elena merely smiled as she looked at the scene outside of the grey world for the first time. The battle between humans and beasts was becoming more and more ferocious as time passed.
"Mm, this is definitely something to celebrate, but we can do that later. For now, I'm itching to test my new power."
